Sokov raised his telescope and looked towards the high ground in the distance. Under the remaining firelight on the hillside, he could see that the hillside was covered with dense corpses. Seeing this scene, Sokov couldn't help but close his eyes in pain.
Eyes, he did not expect that in order to capture this small high ground, the commanders and fighters of the 300th Division actually paid such a heavy price.
He opened his eyes and continued to observe the situation on the high ground. There was no movement on the hilltop position at the moment, but it did not mean that there was no one there. The enemy should be hiding in the smoking fortifications, pointing their guns at the hillside, waiting for
When the Soviet attack resumed, they opened fire without hesitation.
Sokov put down the telescope and turned to Weisbach: "When will your new round of attack start?"
Weisbach raised his hand to look at the time and replied: "Comrade Commander, our attack was repulsed by the enemy half an hour ago, and many people were injured and killed. The troops that have been withdrawn now are on the mountainside.
Rest in the position, and it will take two hours at the earliest before we can launch another attack."
"Can we launch another attack after two hours?" Sokov frowned and said, "Doesn't this give the Germans sufficient preparation time?"
"There is no way," Weisbach replied with a grimace: "These three thousand people originally belonged to different companies. They were pieced together by us temporarily. Cooperation between them is very problematic."
"Comrade Colonel, we have no time. We must launch an attack immediately." Sokov said to Weisbach with a serious expression: "If we delay it any longer, the enemy's reinforcements will arrive as soon as daybreak. By then we will
It becomes even more impossible to seize the high ground. Therefore, we must speed up the attack and decisively seize the high ground before the enemy's reinforcements arrive."
"But……"
"It's nothing. Every minute on the battlefield is precious and can determine the outcome of the battle." Sokov didn't give Weisbach a chance to defend himself and said to himself: "I'll give you half.
Within hours, we must launch an attack on the German positions. If you think you can't do it, you can tell me and I will replace you with someone else to perform this task."
Weisbach had only been in the position of division commander for less than a day. If he was dismissed by Sokov, he might not be able to work in the army in the future. As soon as Sokov finished speaking, he immediately expressed his position and said: "I understand, commander."
Comrade Communist, I immediately called the position halfway up the mountain and ordered them to attack the enemy's position again in half an hour."
While Weisbach was on the phone, Sokov walked aside and called to Mikhailov and others who came with him: "Captain Mikhailov, it seems that the enemy is fully prepared to attack from the front.
, it will only increase casualties. You set off immediately and take a detour to the back of the high ground.
You have two tasks. One is to attack from the enemy's rear, and the other is to cut off the enemy's reinforcements so that the enemies on the high ground cannot be replenished. Do you understand?"
"Understood!" Several commanders replied in unison.
"Captain Mikhailev," Sokov waited for everyone to fall silent and continued to say to Mikhailov: "Since you are the deputy brigade commander, the first and second battalions, as well as the artillery company and machine gun company, are all under your command.
.”
Mikhailov quickly glanced at the high ground where the fire was flashing, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, don't you plan to have the artillery company and the machine gun company support the friendly forces' attack?"
"There is no need." Sokov waved his hands and said: "There are more than a dozen tanks from the tank battalion parked at the foot of the mountain. They can use artillery fire to suppress the enemy's firepower on the top of the mountain."
Hearing Sokov said that there was no need for artillery and machine gun companies to support the high ground, Mikhailev couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but he still asked tentatively: "What about my first company? Let them continue to stay here to cooperate.
Fight with friendly forces, or follow us to detour behind the enemy's rear?"
If Mikhailov hadn't asked, Sokov would have almost forgotten that Narva's 1st company arrived here earlier than the commanders and fighters of the 300th Division. Now that Mikhailev mentioned it, he naturally wanted to know the situation of the 1st company first. He turned around and looked
Weisbach asked Weisbach who had just put down the phone: "Comrade Colonel, where is Captain Narva's company?"
Weisbach quickly replied: "Comrade Commander, Captain Narva's company has been staying on the mountainside position to assist my troops in the defense." He was worried that Sokov would transfer the company, and specifically emphasized that
, "Nowadays, I have fewer and fewer troops at my disposal. If I want to launch an attack on the enemy's position, someone must stay and guard the position halfway up the mountain. And Captain Narva's company is undoubtedly the best candidate."
Sokov is so smart. From Weisbach's words, we can hear his intention not to let the Narvar company return to the establishment. But considering the actual situation on the battlefield, leaving the first company on the mountainside position is indeed better than leaving the company on the mountainside.
It would be more appropriate for them to be transferred back. Thinking of this, he said smoothly: "Okay, comrade colonel, since you don't have enough troops, let the first company temporarily stay in the position halfway up the mountain."
"Thank you, comrade commander." Upon learning that Sokov planned to let Narvarian stay, Weisbach couldn't help but be overjoyed, and repeatedly assured Sokov: "As long as Narvarian sticks to the mountainside,
On the position, our army can retain a suitable starting point for attack, which is very helpful for us to finally seize the high ground."
Mikhailov thought that his troops would detour to the rear of the high ground, and there would definitely be a fierce battle. Of course, he hoped to have as many troops as possible. But now that he heard that Sokov agreed to continue to stay in the position halfway up the mountain, he couldn't help but feel
Somewhat disappointed.
"Comrade Captain," Sokov saw Mikhailev's disappointment, raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder, and said: "It's getting late, hurry up and take the people out. Can we get there before dawn?"
, it’s up to you to capture the high ground ahead.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sokov's words successfully diverted Mikhailev's attention, and he quickly promised: "We will not disappoint your expectations and will definitely capture the high ground before dawn."
After Mikhailev and others left with the troops, Weisbach said to Sokov hesitantly: "Comrade Commander, the terrain of the highland is gentle in the west and steep in the east. Even if our army occupied the highland, if
It is also difficult to hold our position in the face of the enemy's attack."
Sokov frowned and asked Weisbach dissatisfied: "Why can't you hold your position, comrade colonel?"
"I have already said, Comrade Commander, the terrain to the west of the highland is gentle, which is conducive for the enemy to launch a charge." Weisbach replied awkwardly: "Actually, we occupied the entire mountaintop position two hours ago.
But before we could gain a firm foothold, our soldiers were driven back by the enemy's counterattack."
"How could this happen?" Sokov asked sharply: "Are our troops so vulnerable to the enemies of the Viking Division?"
"Before the attack, the enemy carried out violent shelling on our position." Weisbach saw that Sokov was angry, and quickly defended: "The position on the top of the mountain was bombed with craters, making it impossible for our soldiers to hide well.
, resulting in heavy casualties during the shelling. As soon as the shelling stopped, the enemy's counterattack troops rushed up, and it didn't take long to drive our remaining soldiers off the top of the mountain."
The terrain is gentle and easy to attack but difficult to defend; the fortifications on the top of the mountain were damaged by artillery fire, and it was difficult for the commanders and soldiers stationed in the position to avoid the enemy's artillery fire. While Sokov repeatedly thought about these two issues, he also thought of a problem. When the troops attacked, there were tanks and guns.
With the cover, why can't we take the high ground?
Before he could ask this question, Weisbach had already said: "Comrade Commander, are you wondering why our infantry still can't rush to the top of the mountain even though our tanks provide artillery cover at the foot of the mountain?"
Seeing that Weisbach had guessed what he was thinking, Sokov did not hide it, but nodded and answered truthfully: "Yes, I think the tanks parked at the foot of the mountain can fully provide the necessary artillery support for the attacking troops.
.”
"Comrade Commander, at the beginning, our tank troops made a great contribution to the establishment." Weisbach explained to Sokov: "Their artillery fire accurately destroyed the firepower points on the top of the mountain, weakening the enemy's firepower against our army.
However, as time went by, the Germans became cunning. Before our commanders launched the attack, they deliberately did not fire to avoid becoming the target of tank gun attacks.
But when our soldiers approached their position, the tanks at the foot of the mountain were worried about accidental damage. When they stopped firing, the light and heavy firepower of the position opened fire at the same time, forming a dense firepower network and causing huge casualties to our commanders and soldiers."
Sokov wanted to ask the other party, since he knew that the enemy's firepower on the mountaintop position was fierce, why not use tank fire to saturate the enemy's position before attacking?
But this time Weisbach once again said before Sokov's question: "I also discussed this issue with Lieutenant Colonel Chuklik. He said that when the enemy is hiding in the position and not moving, the tank crew cannot see the enemy.
, causing direct artillery fire to lose its effect. As soon as the attacking troops approached the enemy's position and the tank guns stopped firing, the firepower points on the position came to life again, using intensive firepower to kill and injure a large number of our army's commanders and soldiers."
"Direct artillery fire is useless?" Sokov heard the key point from Weisbach's words: "Comrade Colonel, since direct artillery fire cannot deal with the enemy hiding on the top of the mountain, why don't you try mortars?
"
Weisbach was shocked, and then looked at Sokov blankly.
After a while, he raised his hand and slapped himself on the forehead, and said angrily: "Hell, why didn't I think of this method? It is perfect to use mortars to deal with the enemies on the top of the mountain.
.”
"Do you have mortars?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Weisbach replied: "We have an artillery regiment in the Fiski collective farm. The regiment has two mortar companies in its organization. But when setting off, I considered this time
The battle was mainly about sneak attacks, and the artillery was of little use, so we didn't bring them over."
"Since there is artillery, what are you doing?" Sokov urged: "Why don't you call Colonel Atakuz and ask him to send two mortar companies over immediately to focus on bombarding the Germans?
The mountaintop position.”
Weisbach did not dare to neglect, and quickly called Atakuz, who was staying at the Fisky collective farm, and asked him to immediately transfer the two mortar companies. After putting down the phone, he cautiously said to Sokov
: "Comrade Commander, it will take at least an hour for the artillery company to get here. I'm afraid they won't be able to support our attack in time."
Sokov considered that if the attacking troops did not have mortar cover, they would probably be massacred by the enemy on the hillside. Thinking of this, he decided to adjust his plan and wait for the mortar company to arrive before attacking the enemy.
It is not too late to launch an attack on the position. "Okay, Comrade Colonel, your attack time will be postponed until the artillery company arrives."
Seeing Weisbach's relieved look, he added: "Comrade Colonel, if you want to win the battle, it does not depend on the bravery of the commanders and soldiers or the fierce attack, but on how to use your brain more and think more about how to do it."
In battle, achieve the greatest victory at the least cost.”
Although Weisbach disagreed with Sokov's statement, he still echoed: "Comrade Commander, you are right. In war, you need to use your brain more and know how to preserve yourself and destroy the enemy in order to achieve more victories."
and greater results."
But what happened next surprised Sokov. Although he agreed to Weisbach's request to postpone the attack, Weisbach did not promptly notify the commanders and fighters on the mountainside of the order. Those commanders and fighters still waited.
When the time came, under the cover of machine guns, they launched another attack on the enemy's position.
Hearing the gunshots coming from the direction of the high ground, Sokov couldn't help being shocked and asked instinctively: "What the hell, what's going on? Why is the attack advanced?" He raised his binoculars and looked towards the high ground, only to see the position halfway up the mountain.
Seven or eight heavy machine guns began to roar, and the long muzzle flash illuminated the nearby positions and also illuminated the tired and determined faces in the trenches. The rain of bullets flew to the high ground like meteors.
Sokov put down the phone and asked Weisbach sternly: "Comrade Colonel, please explain to me why the troops on the mountainside position launched an attack in advance?"
Weisbach was so frightened by Sokov's words that he sweatdropped. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and explained in a panic: "Comrade Commander, I'm sorry. It was my negligence. I didn't launch the attack in time."
Inform the commander halfway up the mountain of the postponement order."
"Colonel Weisbach, do you know how many soldiers will die in vain because of your negligence?
Sacrifice your life in vain?" Sokov stomped his feet angrily: "This unnecessary sacrifice is completely avoidable."
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, this is all my fault." Fortunately, Weisbach did not shirk responsibility, but took the initiative to take the blame on himself: "It was my negligence. I thought the commander in the position halfway up the mountain was
Before the attack started, he would definitely call me to ask for instructions. Unexpectedly, he actually made his own decision and launched the attack without asking for instructions.
However, the overall responsibility still lies with me. If I inform them immediately after you agree to postpone the attack time, this kind of mistake can be avoided."
"Comrade Colonel, it's too late to say anything now." Sokov said with a straight face: "The army's attack has started, and it can't be stopped even if it wants to. You should immediately notify the tank battalion to prepare for battle and wait for our army to attack.
If things go wrong, use artillery fire to cover their retreat."